Combined cigarette lighter and case



25, 1936. LE vocl 2,032,094

COMBINED CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND CASE Filed Au 25, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 1JJJTilI' I (1: 5. I

INVENTOR FRANK LE. V00:

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combinedcigarette lighter and case.

The invention has for an object the construction of a device asmentioned which is characterized by a cigarette case and a lighterarranged in such a fashion that when a cover for the lighter part isopened a cigarette in lighted condition may be taken out from thedevice.

Still further the invention proposes to so construct the device that thecigarette case has covers which may be opened for the purpose of placingcigarettes within the case, upon a conveyor adapted to deliver thecigarettes one at a time into the lighter part.

Still further the invention also proposes an arrangement wherein thelighter cover is closed (after the lighted cigarette has been taken fromthe lighter compartment) automatically the conveyor previously mentionedis operated for the purpose of delivering another cigarette into thelighter compartment, and simultaneously energy storing means is operatedfor storing energy to be subsequently used to operate lighting mechanismwhen the cover of the lighter is open.

Still further the invention proposes to so construct the device that itmay be embodied as a portable article simulating a regular cigarettecase and adapted to be carried in ones pocket,

or it may be embodied as a stationary device which may be attached uponthe wall of a car or other place as desired.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a device asmentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the ap-- pended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a mai5 terial part of thisdisclosure:-

Fig. -1 is a perspective rear view of a combined cigarette lighter andcase constructed according to this invention shown in the closedposition.

50 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Fig. l withone of the cigarette compartment doors open.

Fig. 3 is a-perspective view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating thedevice with the cigarettes 35 removed so that the conveyor may be seen.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of Fig. 1 but illustratingthe front of the device, with the cover of the lighter compartment open.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. 5

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of the right hand portionof Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device as though takenon the line I-'I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view 10 of a portion of Fig".'7 illustrating in particular the lower corner of the figure.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view as though taken on the line 9--9of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on 15 the line IIl-I0 ofFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line II-Il of Fig.9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the cigarettes.

The combined cigarette lighter and case according to this inventioncomprises a flat hollow casing I0 having a large cigarette holdingcompartment II and a small lighter compartment I2 in which one cigaretteis adapted to be lighted. Two large doors I3 are hingedly connected uponthe case I0 and close the front and rear sides of the cigarette holdingcompartment II. A small door I2 is hingedly mounted upon the case andcloses the lighter compartment I2. The covers I3 and the top portion ofthe case are formed with coacting elements I4 and I4 adapted to hold thecovers in the closed positions. The arrangement is such that portions ofthe case adjacent the portions I4 may be depressed or moved to releasethe covers as is conventional in the construction of cigarette cases.The cigarette holding compartment II and lighter compartment I2 areseparated from each other by a stationary partition II] extending fromthe rear face of the. case to substantially the center and in line witha front hinged partition Ill hingedly mounted upon the front of thecasing ID.

A conveyor is arranged within the cigarette holding compartment I I forthe purpose of holding the cigarettes and conveying the cigarettes oneat a time into the lighter compartment. This conveyor comprises asupport I5 fixedly mounted in the case I0 and having several horizontalarms I5 and vertical sectional end portions I5' of the support arehollow and support spindles I6 which are rotatively engagedtherethrough. The arrangement is such that there is a spindle I6 at eachend of the cigarette compartment II.

receiving supports for the cigarettes.

Rollers I! are mounted upon the spindles l6 and. between thesections 157 Endless chains [8 are engaged over the rollers and arranged to extendacross the front of the cigarette holding compartment and around acrossthe rear. These endless chains, two in number,

see particularly Fig. 3, are arranged superimposedand support smallvertical arcuate shaped elements [9 which are adapted to form convenientThe conveyor belts I8 are also provided with projecting fingers 2|spaced from each other a suflicient distance so that the normal spacebetween adjacent fingers is adapted to receive one cigarette. Theseprojecting fingers serve to move the cigarettes along during theoperation of the conveyor. The cigarettes rest upon the bottom of thecase and are merely pushed along by the con- I veyor during theoperation.

The conveyor is arranged to operate in steps and each advance issufficient to cause the roller I! at the right to rotate through 180".The arrangement is such that the cigarette'immediately behind the hingedpartition lll' will be ejected to the front into the compartment [2.

The partition Ill is formed with openings to allow for the passage ofthe fingers 2| but the cigarette, since it extends substantially thefull height of the casing, will be restrained from passing along and inthis manner the cigarette 'will be maintained in the lightercompartment.

The hinged partition I0? is provided with a spring 23 arranged upon thehinge thereoi and having its ends engaging respectively against ;theinner side ofthe casing l0 and the partition Ni so as to normally holdthe partition l0 at right angles to the front wall of the casing l0.Thus when a cigarette is forced into the compartment the partition H1will be moved open to allow such transfer and thereafter willimmediately close to divide oif the cigarette holding compartment fromthe lighter compartment and so prevent the possibility of the othercigarettes becoming ignited when the cigarette in the lightercompartment is ignited as hereinafter explained. The lighter compartmentis lined with fireproof material I2 r The lighter compartment I2 isprovided with a stationary'partition consisting of a horizontal portion25 comprising the fioor of'the lighter compartment,'and a verticalportion 25 terminating in a top horizontal portion 25, which divides offan area 26 in which mechanism hereinafter described is located. Thecigarettes 20 are of special construction, merely in the fact that oneof the ends of each is provided with self igniting substances 26 adaptedto be ignited when rubbed with an abrasive or some type of wheel. Thesubstance 26 may be any ignitable'substance combined with a properoxidizing agent, such as browned manganese peroxide (MnO'z) In otherrespects the cigarette 20 is substantially identical to the typespresently known and consisting of a paper orother type of coveringmaterial holding tobacco. V

The lighter device includes an abrasive wheel 21 of circular shapewithan oifset side, which is fixed upon a spindle 28'rotatively mountedin the area 26 below the floor 25 The floor 25 is formed with an openingthrough which the top of the abrasivewheel 21 extends. The arrangementis such that the upper portion of the abrasive wheel 21 will be inintimate contact with the substance 26 of a cigarette 20 ejected intothe lighter compartment; J

a the lever 46 button 42 may be depressed for the purpose of A springmotor means is provided for operating the abrasive wheel 21. This meanscomprises a gear train associated with a spring. More particularly thereis a small pinion 29 fixed'upon the spindle 28, said pinion meshing witha gear 30 on a spindle 3| and associated with a pinion 32 meshing with agear 33 free upon a spindle 34, see Fig. 8. It should be noticed thatonly the gear 33 is free upon the spindle 34, andthe other gears (29, 30and 32) just mentioned are fixed upon their spindles... A spring isarranged coaxially upon the spindle 34 and has one of its ends connectedwith the side of the gear 33. The other end of the spring 35 is fixedupon a disc 36 fixed upon the spindle 34. The spindle 34 is rotativewithin the compartment 26' and is provided near one end with a ratchetwheel 31 fixed thereon. This ratchet wheel 3'l' is cooperativelyassociated with a pawl 38 mounted upon the side of a gear 33 whichisalso loose upon the spindle 34.

The gear 33 is held star spring 35. The means for holding the gear, 33

stationary comprises a lever 40 having one end 40 engaging through thetop. of the partition 25 and engaging against theteeth of the gear 33,.i

The lever 40 extends upwards and is connected with lever 43 at rightangles thereto and pivotally mounted intermediately at the point 4| uponthe top of the casing. A button42 extends from the casing and isconnected withthe one end of The arrangement is such that the moving thelever 40 and causing theportion 41] to move slightly upwards asufiicient distance to release the gear 33. An expansion spring 43 isinterposed between the lever 43 and thecasing and serves tonormally urgethe lever into aposition in which the end 43? engages against the gear33. When the button 42 is completely pressed in the finger presses thematerialof the casing to release the door 12 as hereinafter explained. p

It should be noticed that when the spring 35 is in a wound condition andthe button 42 is de pressed, the lever 40* will-disconnect with the gear33 and the gear 33 will then be free to rotate upon the spindle 34. Theresult will be that the gear 33 will transmit rotationsthru thegears 32,

30 and 29 'to the spindle 28 and so the abrasive wheel 21 will rotateand cause the igniting of the.

cigarette.

l The lighter door i2 is hingedly mounted bya hinge 44 upon a portion ofthe casing, coacting snap parts on the door 62 and the casing holds.

the door in closed position. A spring 45 is arranged upon the hingedpoint of the door 12 and has its ends acting respectively betweenthe'casing and the door-|2 so as normally to urge the door into an openposition. The door I2 is provided with a latching depression 43 adaptedto.

engage a complementary element'4lupon the casing so that the door willbe held in the closed position when manually moved so. The. ar-

rangement is also such that, when the button42 is depressed for thepurpose of moving the lever 40, thematerial ofthe casing will bedepressed to disengage the coacting elements 41 and 45 so that the doorI2 is released and the spring 45 is free to open the door to theposition as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The lugs 48 project from the inner side of the door [2 and are formedwith curved fronts equipped with holding springs 48 adapted to engageagainst the side of the cigarette in the lighter compartment for thepurpose of holding the cigarette so that the cigarette is held firmly inposition against the abrasive wheel 21.

A means is provided for operating the conveyor upon closing the lighterdoor I2. This means comprises a small gear 49 fixed upon one of theshafts l6, namely that shaft which is adjacent the lighter compartment,and this gear 49 is engaged by a ratchet 50 carried upon the side of agear 5| rotative on the spindle Iii. This gear 5| meshes with a largegear 52 which is rotative upon the bottom of the casing. An arm 53 isconnected near the periphery of the gear 52 and extends through aportion 19 at the bottom of the casing, to the chamber 26'. The innerend of the arm 53 is connected with one end of a bell crank 54 which ispivotally mounted at 55 upon the side of the casing. The other end ofthe bell crank 54 is arranged immediately below a lug 56 projecting fromthe door l2.

A spring 5'! acts between a stationary lug 58 upon the casing and thefree end of the bell crank 54 so as tonormally urge it upwards. Theparts are so proportioned that when the door I2 is closed, the free endof the bell crank 54 is depressed against the action of the spring 51after the door is nearly closed, for example after it has but a quarterof an inch more to travel to assume the closed position. Depressing thefree end of the bell crank 54 causes the gear 52 to be turned whichtransmits rotation to the gear 5! and causes the spindle [6 to turnthrough 180 to move the conveyor. When the door [2 is open the lug 56moves free from the bell crank 54 so that the spring 51 moves the bellcrank into its original position, which turns the gear 52 back to itsoriginal position, but the pawl 50 then idles over the gear 49 so thatthe conveyor will not move. It will be readily understood that theconveyor will move in steps only forward in a correct amount to deliverone cigarette at a time .into the ignition compartment. It is pointedout that because the door is substantially closed before the lug 56engages the bell crank 54 that there is very small possibility ofthrowing the conveyor out of time in its delivery of one cigarette at atime to the ignition chamber. If it is accidentally thrown out of timeit may easily be corrected by proper manipulation of the door [2.

The operation of the device is as follows: The doors l3 may be openedwhenever desired to replenish the supply of cigarettes upon theconveyor. Cigarettes should be placed with the igniting substance 26 atthe bottom. When it is desired to smoke a cigarette it is merelynecessary that the button 42 be depressed and upon slight depression tocause lifting of the bar 40 to free the gear 33 so that the abrasive 21operates and upon full depression to cause the means which holds thedoor I 2' closed (parts 45 and 41) to release each other so that thespring opens the door for allowing removal of the lighted cigarette.

The release of the gear 33 causes the spring 35 to discharge its storedenergy to rotate the abrasive wheel 2! to cause igniting of thecigarette. In Fig. 4 the cigarette is shown in the igniter compartmentand may be lifted out and it will be found that it is lighted. The doorl2 may be manually closed and when closed will deliver winding to thespring 35. The reason for this is that the rack 40 acts against the gear39 and causes turning of the spindle 34 carrying the disc 36 connectedwith the spring 35. It will be realized that when the button 42 isreleased the lever 40 will act under the action of the spring 43 to holdthe gear 33 against rotation. For this reason the spring 35 is now woundby the turning of the spindle 34.

The closing of the door l2 will also cause the lug 56 to move the bellcrank 54 and advance the conveyor. This will result in one of thecigarettes from the holding compartment being moved past the hingedpartition I 0 into the lighter compartment. The partition [O willautomatically assume the closed position when the cigarette passes. Thedevice is now in its original condi-' tion.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for setting said springmeans into operation, means for operating said conveyor operable uponclosing of said small door, and means for winding said spring meansoperable upon closing said small door.

2. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a hollow casinghaving a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for setting said springmeans into operation, means for operating said conveyor operable uponclosing of said small door, and means for winding said spring meansoperable upon closing said small door, a large door being associatedwith said casing for closing said cigarette holding compartment.

3. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a CD11? veyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holrhng cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for settingcsaid springmeans into operation;

means for operating said conveyor operable upon closing of said smalldoor, means for winding ment, for engaging against the cigarette thereinto cause lighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating saidabrasive wheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed,means for releasing said small door, a depressible but- 'ton for settingsaid spring means into operation,

means for operating said conveyor operable upon closing of said smalldoor, and means for winding said spring means operable upon closing saidsmall door, said conveyor comprising a support mounted upon said casingand rotatively supporting a pair ofparallel spindles located at the endsof the casing, and an endless chain equipped for receiving thecigarettes mounted upon rollers upon said spindles.

5. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, asmall door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for setting said springmeans into operation, means for operating said conveyor operable upon,closing of said small door, and means for winding fixed position, and awound spring connected said spring means operable upon closing saidsmall door, said spring means for operating the abrasive wheelcomprising a gear train connected with the abrasive wheel andterminating in a gear engaged with a lever for holding the gear in awith said latter mentioned gear.

6. A' combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a

small door for'closing said lighter compartment,

a conveyor in said cigarette holding compart ment for holding cigarettesand conveying one cigarette at a time into said lighter compartment, anabrasive wheel extending into the lighter compartment for engagingagainst the. cigarette;

therein to cause lighting of this cigarette, spring means for operatingsaid abrasive wheel, means for releasably holding said small doorclosed;

means for releasing said small door, a depressible button for settingsaid spring meansinto operation, means for operating said conveyoroperable upon closing of said small door, and

means for winding said spring means operable upon closing said smalldoor, said spring means for operating the abrasive wheel comprising agear train connectedwith the abrasive wheel and terminating a gearengaged with a lever for holding the gear in a fixed position, and aWound spring connected with said latter men-V V tioned gear, said meanstor releasably holding the door closed. comprising coacting elementsupon the door and casing adapted to engage each other disengageupon'pressure on the end-of the casing.

7.'A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large. cigarette holding compartments, small lightercom-V partment for one cigarette to belighted, a smalldoor for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, meansfor releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible but-' ton for setting saidspring means into operation, means for operatingsaid conveyor operableupon closing of said small door, and means tor winding said spring meansoperable upon closing said small door, said spring means for operatingthe abrasive wheel comprising a. gear train connected with the abrasivewheel and terminating in a gear engaged with a lever for holding thegear in a fixed position, and a wound spring connected with said lattermentioned gear, said means for releasably'holding the door closedcomprising coacting elements upon the doorand casing adapted to engageeach other and disengage upon pressure on the end of the casing,

said depressible button being arranged adjacent a depressible portion ofsaid casing tocause the releasing of the small door, and being connected1 with a bell crank having a portion engaging said gear for holding thespring mechanism from unwinding. 7 V

8. A combined cigarette lighter and case, com prising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment;

an abrasive wheel extending into the lighter compartment for engagingagainst the cigarette therein to cause lighting of this cigarette,spring means for operating said abrasive wheel, means for releasablyholding said small door closed, means for releasing said small door, adepressible button forrsetting said spring meansinto 7 operation, meansfor operating said conveyor operable upon elosingof said small door, andmeans for winding said spring means operable,

upon closing small door, comprising an ele- V ment up'onsaid doorengageable against a 'bell crank when the door is substantially in theclosed position, an arm connected with said bell crank and connectedwith a gear meshing with a pinion connected with a spindle for drivingsaid conveyor with a pawl and ratchet arrangement associated with theparts to transmit rotations in one direction only.

9. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a flat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for setting said springmeans into operation, means for operating said conveyor operable uponclosing of said small door, and means for winding said spring meansoperable upon closing said small door, comprising an arcuate memberconnected with said small door and meshing with a gear free upon aspindle, a pawl mounted upon said gear and engaging a small gear fixedupon said spindle, a disc fixed upon said spindle, another gear freeupon said spindle, and a spring connected between said disc and saidfree gear.

10. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a fiat hollowcasing having a large cigarette holding compartment, a small lightercompartment for one cigarette to be lighted, a small door for closingsaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding cigarettes and conveying one cigarette at a timeinto said lighter compartment, an abrasive Wheel extending into thelighter compartment for engaging against the cigarette therein to causelighting of this cigarette, spring means for operating said abrasivewheel, means for releasably holding said small door closed, means forreleasing said small door, a depressible button for setting said springmeans into operation, means for operating said conveyor operable upon11. A combined cigarette lighter and case;

comprising a casing having a cigarette holding compartment and acompartment for one ciga' rette adapted to be lighted within said lattercompartment, a door closing the said lighter compartment, a conveyor insaid cigarette holding compartment for holding and conveying thecigarettes one at a time to the lighter compartment, lighter mechanismfor lighting the one cigarette within the lighter compartment, means foroper'- ating said lighter mechanism and operative with a spring, meansfor releasing said lighter door and for setting said spring intooperation, means for operating said conveyor operable upon closing ofthe lighter door, and means for winding said spring operable uponclosing of the lighter door.

12. A combined cigarette lighter and case, comprising a casing having acigarette holding compartment with a compartment for one cigaretteadapted to be lighted within said latter compartment, a door closing thesaid lighter compartment, a conveyor in said cigarette holdingcompartment for holding and conveying the cigarettes one at a time tothe lighter compartment, lighter mechanism for lighting the onecigarette within the lighter compartment, means for operating saidlighter mechanism and operative with a spring, means for releasing saidlighter door and for setting said spring into operation, means foroperating said conveyor operable upon closing of the lighter door, andmeans for winding said spring operable upon closing of the lighter door,said lighter door being pivotally connected with the casing.

FRANK LE VOCI.

